Heather Hogan

Author: Heather Hogan

  • WordCamp Sacramento 2017: Beginner Track: Plugins

    Come see me on Saturday! https://2017.sacramento.wordcamp.org/ 

  • Finding the Right Fonts

    Finding the Right Fonts

    I love fonts almost as much as thrifting, which is a lot. But I do not love the paralyzing ache of searching through fonts and trying to make good pairings until your eyes cross and it looks like you’ve spelled your name wrong and are no longer sure if English is your first language. I like my thrift stores clean and restocked regularly and I like my fonts pre-paired.

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  • Web Books I’ve Actually Read

    Web Books I’ve Actually Read

    If you have taken my class you have likely heard me say that I prefer to learn by doing not from books and I feel like tech books become outdated too quickly in this field . Well, I have read some good books on web design but they are on concepts that are more long-lasting. Since students have asked for recommendations, here goes: (more…)

  • Recommended Themes and Plugins for Newbies

    I’m teaching WordPress this semester to a group of emerging web professionals. They have a lot of questions about themes and plugins to start with. Here are some themes and plugins we have identified as “good” to try.

    Themes

    Plugins

    Etcetera

    • Add a Newsletter Signup via the blog subscription widget in Jetpack or copy and paste your HTML signup form from MailChimp into a Text widget or page.
    • Generate a Style Tile from an existing site with Stylify.me. What is a Style Tile you ask?
    • When selecting themes and plugins, check WordPress.com, if they use it you know its been peer reviewed by a developer for stability and security. Then check number of users and 4-5 star reviews – there is strength in numbers. Lastly, check how often the developer updates the plugin – you want the code to be compatible with other tools on your site.

    What other themes, plugins and tips do you have to offer newbies?

  • Requested App Pivots and Updates Tone and Voice

    Requested App Pivots and Updates Tone and Voice

    Over the summer I wrote an analysis  of an app called Requested. The app did many things well but it could do better. I was honored to be hired by Requested to help them refine the way they talk to and interact with their customers. Here’s what we did… (more…)

  • WordCamp Sacramento is Near!

    WordCamp Sacramento is Near!

    I’m very proud and excited to be a part of the organizing team for the first WordCamp Sacramento. As the Entertainment Director, I researched and am coordinating venues for our speaker/sponsor dinner and the event after party. We selected Ten22 for the dinner; they have a private dining room and a tasty, seasonal fixed menu for a decent price. The after party will be held at the River City Saloon in Old Sacramento. (more…)

  • Branding & Design Analysis: Crocker Art Museum

    Have you ever been enjoying a much-anticipated fancy dinner somewhere like Mulvaney’s B&L or Ella, enjoying your amuse bouche, sipping an aperitif, digging the vibe around you to suddenly have the spell broken by a too-rockin’ song or a lipstick-stained water-glass? I have and it hurts me to be yanked out of my happy time. (more…)

  • Analysis of the WordPress Stream Plugin

    Analysis of the WordPress Stream Plugin

    What is Stream?

    Stream is a plugin for WordPress that tracks logged-in user activity organized by context, action and IP address for easy filtering. Developers can extend Stream with custom connectors to log any kind of action.

    For non-techie folks it’s a list of all the activity on a site. Not of the activities of people who view the site, but those who build and maintain it.

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  • Brand & Logo for Let’s Play Chalet

    Brand & Logo for Let’s Play Chalet

    After years of debating, shopping, discussion, and test runs at various vacation rentals my parents decided to purchase a vacation home; I am  overjoyed! I spent much of my childhood playing in the snow around “Aunt Lee’s Cabin” in Crestline (in the mountains above San Bernardino). It was a perfect easy getaway for our family when I was a kid, and I have many fond memories of the house and area. (more…)

  • Social Alchemy is in

    Social Alchemy is in

    The more that audacious coders dream of changing the world, the more they need to fill their companies with social alchemists who can connect with customers–and make progress seem pleasant.
    –George Anders, Forbes

  • Join the WordPress Sacramento Slack Team

    Join the WordPress Sacramento Slack Team

     

    Add yourself to the Slack Team

    What is Slack?

    Slack is an online chat tool for teams. It replaces email in many ways, you can text, share files, add images, and you can have private rooms or public rooms for specific topics. The system stores all your conversations in one place that is searchable so a team member can easily catch up on the conversation. You can also have Slack alert you when your name or a keyword of interest is mentioned. It’s pretty cool and free for a limited version. Once you join one, you will likely join more.

    Its a great place to get help with a tricky problem.

     

  • When Responding to an RFP – Don’t Do This

    When Responding to an RFP – Don’t Do This

    I often help companies define their business needs for their website and develop a scope of work or RFP to present to potential vendors. I usually stick around through the procurement process to ensure that it runs smoothly. After years of reading RFP’s and writing proposals it’s really interesting to be on the receiving end. If I could whisper to my younger self (and the other proposal writers out there) I’d share these mistakes to avoid. (more…)

  • Five Steps to Freelancing “Full Time”

    Five Steps to Freelancing “Full Time”

    If you’ve been freelancing on the side for a while and are thinking of taking the leap into a legit sole proprietorship, here are 5 things I did that can work for you.

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  • Quyle Kilns, Dream Studio for Ceramic Artists

    Quyle Kilns, Dream Studio for Ceramic Artists

    On a recent visit to Arnold, California, we took a detour off highway 4 to Quyle Kilns. I was lucky to get a full backstage tour of the studios from Pamela Quyle. Short story is this woman grew up in the arts, raised her kids in the studios, and works there today (her sister runs the winery and organic farming ventures). (more…)